Getting Social Justice Right (AU 2013)

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Transcript of Getting Social Justice Right (AU 2013)

Getting Social Justice RightGreg ForsterActon University, June 19, 2013What do people meanby "social justice"?"A socially just society is one based upon the principles of equality and solidarity; which pedagogy also maintains that a socially just society both understands and values human rights, as well as recognizing the dignity of every human being.""A legal order and normative ideal within a society by which individuals and their various associations are given the maximum range of liberty in pursuit of their proper ends, with a minimum of interference from superior authorities, i.e., only to the extent necessary to orient general activity towards the common good, and governed by the principles of conflicting rights, prudence, and, ultimately, of charity."Thomas C. Behr, U. of Houston(summarizing Luigi Taparelli D’Azeglio, who coined the phrase)John Rawls (1921-2002)(never used the phrase, but it's widely associated with him)First principle: "Each person has an equal claim to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic rights and liberties, which scheme is compatible with the same scheme for all; and in this scheme the equal political liberties, and only those liberties, are to be guaranteed their fair value."

Second principle: "Social and economic inequalities are to satisfy two conditions: (a) They are to be attached to positions and offices open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity; and (b), they are to be to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged members of society."Wikipedia entryon "Social Justice"Friedrich Hayek(1899-1992)- a "will-o-the-wisp" and an "empty formula"- "strictly," "necessarily" and "entirely" "empty and meaningless"- a phrase that "meant nothing at all" and "has no meaning whatsoever"- a source of "sloppy thinking and even intellectual dishonesty"- a "primitive anthropomorphism" or "atavism"- a "superstition" comparable to believing in witches or alchemy- a "hollow incantation" like "open sesame"- a "dishonest insinuation... intellectually disreputable, the mark of demagogy and cheap journalism which responsible thinkers ought to be ashamed to use because, once its vacuity is recognized, its use is dishonest"

- "that incubus which today makes fine sentiments the instruments for the destruction of all values of a free civilization," leading to "the destruction of the indispensable environment in which the traditional moral values alone can flourish, namely personal freedom""The Mirage of Social Justice" declares that "social justice" is:Thomas C. BehrLuigi Taparelli D’AzeglioJesuit scholar, 1793–1862Responding to Industrial Revolution,Laissez-faire v. SocialismMajor influence on Rerum NovarumPut "social" in front of "justice" because thehuman person is social as well as individualA theory of justice must account for human associations/institutions as well as individualsThe various types of institutions . . .. . . must all be free to perform their proper functions,and must be rightly related to one another.Otherwise you don't have justice.WesternPhilosophicalTraditionScripture &TheologicalTraditionDoing justice inparticular casesDike & AdikaVS.Social solidarityaround justiceSocratesPlatoAugustineRousseauTocquevilleMillAristotleCiceroAquinasLockeKantHegelFALLENCREATED&REDEEMEDTheological"Justice"Natural"Justice"Perfect standard Godrightly demands of allLower standardcommunity is able to enforceHow much of itsoriginal integritydoes the worldretain in spite ofthe fall?To what extent shouldwe focus on restoringthe original design ofcreation......and to what extentshould we focus oncreating "foretastes"of the new creation?"In Paradox With""Above""Of""Against""Transforming"Christ __________ CultureLibertarianismPaternalismFree EnterpriseMoral InstitutionsSafety Net"Social Justice"Free EnterpriseMoral InstitutionsSafety Net